Receptacle and opening means therefor



y 1963 J. J. WALSH ETAL 3,089,610

RECEPTACLE AND OPENING MEANS THEREFOR Filed Nov. 2, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEYS hllzeslllalslz/ May 1963 J. J. WALSH ETAL 3,089,610

RECEPTACLE AND OPENING MEANS THEREFOR Filed Nov. 2, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TORS 17% (/a/msu/ [Va/5% 34 Kala/2 DA/mrea ATTORNEYS y 1963 J. J. WALSH ETAL RECEPTACLE AND OPENING MEANS THEREFOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Nov. 2, 1960 s m H m5 m N/ 0 2 7 m 2 J, am mfl J4 United States Patent 3,089,610 RECEPTACLE AND OPENING MEANS THEREFOR James J. Walsh, Cranford, N.J., and A. Ralph DAndrea,

Philadelphia, Pa., assignors to Louis Fried, Philadelphia, Pa.

Filed Nov. 2, 1960, Ser. No. 66,855

19 Claims. (Cl. 220-53).

This invention relates broadly to the class of receptacles and is directed particularly to a new and novel combined receptacle and opening means therefor.

In the field of merchandising both liquid and dry commodities in cans and boxes of both metal and fiber or paperboard construction, the trend is more and more toward the designing of such receptacles in a way to simplify the opening thereof for the easy extraction or discharge of the contents.

The foregoing is particularly true with regard to the merchandising of beverages and especially beverages of carbonated character. At the present time carbonated beverages are marketed to a great extent in metallic receptacles which require the use of a hand manipulated opening device whereby an end wall of the receptacle is punctured and a section of the wall cut and rolled or turned into the receptacle to provide a pour opening. It frequently happens that when it is desired to open such receptacle an opener of suitable character is not at hand.

It is accordingly a primary object of the present invention to provide a new and novel opening means for a beverage receptacle which means forms a permanent part of a wall of the receptacle until such time as the user desires to open the receptacle, whereupon the desired opening can be effected by grasping and removing the opener from the receptacle wall.

Carbonated beverages such as beer and the like are maintained under pressure until used and it is well known that in the use of conventional puncturing openers the sudden release of the compressed gasses frequently results in violent expulsion not only of the gas but of some of the contents of the receptacle.

Accordingly, it is another object of the invention to provide a receptacle and opening means, for marketing carbonated beverages, wherein an opening means of new and novel character is provided which forms an opening covering fixed part of a Wall of the receptacle and which functions in cooperation with a frangible liner on the inner side of such wall and opening whereby upon manipulation of the opener the liner will first be punctured so as to effect the release of the gas pressure without spilling any of the contents of the receptacle.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a receptacle and novel opening means therefor wherein the opener device is maintained in position as a permanent part of a wall of the receptacle with a part thereof in covering relation with an upon the inner side of a pour opening in the Wall, by pressure exerted upon a liner lying over said part of the opener on the inner side of the receptacle wall and wherein the opener is designed to automatically puuncture such liner when a portion of the opener lying exteriorly of the supporting wall is manipulated in a predetermined manner.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and novel receptacle and opening means wherein a wall of the receptacle is initially provided with a single discharge of pour opening and wherein said opening is maintained in covered or closed condition by a new and novel opening device having novel locking connection with the receptacle wall by portions of the device interconnected one With the other and with the edges of the opening, one of such portions of the opener lying within the receptacle and another lying exteriorly thereof and "ice the exteriorly located portion being manipulatable for the complete removal of the opener device from the receptacle wall with one outward pull upon the said exterior portion.

A further and more specific object is to provide a receptacle for carbonated liquids wherein an opener device is associated with an initially formed pour opening and with a frangible liner covering the receptacle wall on the inner side thereof and extending across such pour opening, wherein a portion of the opener is maintained in position over the pour opening on the inner side of the receptacle wall between the latter and the sheet of frangible material and is designed in a novel manner whereby by grasping and pulling up a portion of such opener lying upon the outer side of the wall the simultaneous puncturing or rupturing of such frangible sheet and the Withdrawal of the opener from the pour opening may be effected.

The invention broadly contemplates the provision of a receptacle in which a Wall thereof, more especially an end wall in a cylindrical receptacle, is provided with a triangular opening similar to the opening produced by the well known beer can opener which has a curved pointed end and a means for fulcrurning the opener on the rim of the can to force the pointed end thereinto and through the adjacent end wall.

The inner surface of the can Wall in which the pour opening is formed, is covered by a sheet of frangible material, preferably aluminum foil.

The opener device of the present invention in one embodiment thereof comprises an elongate piece of metal of suitable weight and flexibility which has a substantial portion of one end tapered to a point and which is folded transversely midway of its ends to provide inner and outer portions, the tapered end portion of'the strip forming the inner part or portion of the opener which lies.

against the inner side of the wall between the latter and the frangible sheet of material and such inner part or portion is of a width and length from the fold to the tapered end to completely cover the pour opening. The. tapered end of the inner portion of the opener is positioned to extend in the same direction as the apex of the triangular opening and the inner portion of the opener has a tongue struck out therefrom which extends through the tapered or apical end of the opening for engagement in an aperture in the overlying outer portion of the opener and which outer portion covers substantially the entire opening on the outer side of the can wall.

At the bend or fold of the strip of material from which the opener is formed, a spur is struck from the inner portion to project therefrom away from the fold and extend under the end wall of the receptacle between the latter and the sheet of frangible material. In this embodiment of the opener when the outer portion thereof is grasped and the free end of such portion is pulled outwardly away from the can'wall the connection between the tongue and such outer portion will be broken and as the outer portion is pulled further from the wall to open the fold between the portions the spur at the fold swings down and punctures the underlying foil. By this means gas in the receptacle is permitted to escape and the opener which previously had had its inner portion pressed against the under side of the wall by the gas within the receptacle forcing the sheet of frangible material thereagainst, will be released and may be withdrawn from the opening, whereupon the portion of the foil remaining across the opening may be removed with a suitable instrument such as the pointed end of the opener itself.

In another embodiment the opener has laterally projecting pointed wings on opposite sides at the fold which extend laterally between the can wall and the sheet of frangible material and in this embodiment when the outer portion of the opener is grasped and pulled outwardly to remove the opener from its covered position over the pour opening such laterally projecting wings will be bent downwardly and function as puncturing spurs to rupture the sheet of frangible material.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification with the understanding, however, that the invention is not confined to a strict conformity with the showing of the drawings but may be changed or moditied so long as such changes or modifications mark no material departure from the salient features of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of a cylindrical re ceptacle showing one embodiment of the present invention associated with an end wall thereof.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the can wall showing in dotted outline the portions of the opener lying on the under side or inner side of the wall with the outer portion of the opener shown in full lines.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale taken substantially on a line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view corresponding to the section line for FIG. 3, but on a larger scale and showing in two stages the action of the opener in the operation of opening or uncovering the pour opening.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view on a reduced scale taken substantially on the line 5-5 of FIG. 3 with the line of section passing only between the wall of the receptacle and the outer portion of the opener.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 6-6 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is an exploded view illustrating the opener in the condition thereof following its removal from the can wall.

FIG. 8 is a developed view of the opener per se.

FIG. 9 is a view in plan of an end wall of a receptacle showing in position thereon a second embodiment of the opener device.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line Ill-10 of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a view in perspective illustrating the first stage in manipulating the top portion of the opener of FIG. 9.

FIG. 12 is a view in perspective illustrating a further step in the operation of removing the opener.

FIG. 13 is a sectional, view taken substantially on the line 1313 of FIG. 12.

FIG. 14 is an exploded view illustrating the form of the opener as it leaves the can opening.

FIG. 15 is a plan view of the developed opener.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings the numeral 10 in FIG. 1 generally designates a receptacle in association with one wall of which there is illustrated an opener constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the invention and which opener in this one embodiment is generally designated 12.

The receptacle 10 is here shown as comprising a cylindrial receptacle of the beer can type, the side wall being designated 14 and the ends being designated 16 and 18.

The end walls are joined to the side wall by the conventional rolled seam 20 and 21.

One end wall, here shown as the wall -16, is provided with a triangular pour opening 22, the base portion 23 of the opening lying adjacent to the rim while the convergent sides or side edges 24 of the opening join to form the apex 25 adjacent to the center of the wall.

The numeral 26 designates a sheet of frangible material, preferably aluminum foil, which is here illustrated as being coextensive with the wall 16 against the inner side of which it is positioned, whereby the periphery or edge portion 27 of the foil is tightly joined or rolled into the beaded or seamed edge 20, thereby maintaining the foil in tight condition against the under side of the wall.

Consequently, the foil overlies or covers the opening and also a portion of the opener as about to be described.

The opener '12 is formed, as illustrated in FIG. 8, from a single strip or band 29 of ductile metal which is adapted to be folded and which may also be unfolded or bent without breaking.

The band of material 29 has a central or middle portion which is bounded by the parallel edges 30 and the width of the hand between these edges is only slightly less than the length of the base edge 23 of the pour opening. This band is adapted to be folded transversely at approximately midway between its ends along the line 31 to provide the two portions 32 and 33 which are brought into overlying or juxtaposed relation when the opener is fitted to the can wall 16 in closing relation with the opening 22.

The portion 32 includes a part of the middle section of the body between the edges 30, but the major part of this portion 32 is tapered to the end of the body, the convergent edges being designated 34 and the edges merging to form the point or tip 35.

At the tapered end or tip area 35 the material has a triangular tongue pressed therefrom as indicated at 36, the point of the tongue being directed toward the end of the portion in which it is formed.

The outer portion 33 of the opener also includes a part of the mid section of the strip of material lying between the edges 30 as shown and this outer portion is also tapered toward its free end but the tapering side edges 37 does not come to a point or intersect but join the rounded terminal portion 38. Thus the tapered part of the outer portion 33 maintains a greater width throughout the taper than does the inner portion and the outer portion 33 adjacent to the rounded end has an aperture 39 formed therethrough for the purpose about to be de scribed.

The mid section of the body 29 has a triangular spur 40 struck therefrom, the point of the spur being directed toward the pointed end 35 of the body while the base portion of the triangle lies substantially on the fold line 31. Thus it will be seen that when the body 29 is folded along the line 31 to bring the portion 33 into overlying relation with the portion 32, the spur 40 will swing under and will project away from the fold line as shown best in FIG. 3 where the opener is shown in applied position on the receptacle wall 16.

The opener is applied to the receptacle wall prior to the attachment of the sheet of frangible material 26 to the wall. When the opener is placed in position the long tapered under position 32 is inserted through the opening 22 so that the point 35 will lie against the under side of the wall at the apex 25 of the opening and it will be seen that the width of the portion 32 from the fold line 31 entirely to the point 35 is greater than the width of the triangular opening through the major portion of the latter, the exception being at the base line 23 of the opening where, as previously stated, the width of the opener between the lines must be very slightly less so as to permit the opener to be placed in position.

When the opener is placed with the lower portion 32 against the under side of the wall 16 and the upper or outer portion 33 is bent over into superposed relation with the inner or lower portion 32, the opening 22 will be completely covered on the outside of the receptacle wall. The tongue 36 is raised slightly so as to extend above the wall in the apex of the opening or in the crotch formed between the opening sides 24 and is extended into or through the opening 39 in the top portion of the opener and may then be bent down slightly as indicated at 36a in FIG. 3, against the top side of the outer portion '33 so as to form a locking connection therewith.

As previously stated, when the top or outer portion 33 of the opener is bent or folded along the line 31, the spur 40 will swing rearwardly from the fold line and when this is done after the lower portion 32 has been placed in the position in the opening and against the under side of the wall 16, the spur 40 will engage the under surface of the wall 16 radially outwardly from the base portion 23 of the opening as illustrated. Placement of the frangible sheet 26 as illustrated and described will then completely cover the inner portion of the opener and when the receptacle is filled with the beverage under gaseous pressure, such pressure will force the frangible sheet 26 firmly against the inner portion of the opener and thus firmly hold it against movement. Such inner portion of the opener likewise functions to close the pour opening and also to prevent the pressure within the receptacle from blowing the frangible material through the opening.

When the receptacle is to be opened the top or outer portion 33 of the opener is grasped and pulled upwardly as illustrated in FIG. 4. To facilitate this grasping of the top portion this portion may be given a slight outward bow as indicated at 41 so that the side edges can be readily gripped between the fingers. When the top portion 33 is thus pulled up the tongue 36 will first be disengaged from the opening 39 and as the portion 33 is bent upwardly to open the bend or told at 31, the spur 40 will be swung downwardly and forced through the foil or frangible lining sheet 26, thus forming the opening 42 therein which will permit the escape of gases from the receptacle. With the escape of the pressurized gas, the pressure exerted by the foil against the inner portion 32 of the opener device will be relaxed and the device can then be readily withdrawn or pulled out through the opening 22 and whatever bit of foil may remain across the apex portion of the opening can then be cut away with a suitable implement or the pointed end 35 of the opener device can be used for this purpose to permit the contents of the receptacle to be discharged through the openin 22.

Referring now to FIGS. 9 to 15, there is illustrated the invention in a slightly modified form or, in other words, a second embodiment. This second embodiment of the opener has been illustrated in association with the top wall 50 of a receptacle which is generally designated 51 and in which wall is formed a triangular pour opening 52 as in the first described structure. The numerals53 and 54 designate respectively the base edge and the convergent side edges of the triangular opening, the side edges merging at the apex 55.

The opener 56 in the modified construction is illustrated in the developed form in FIG. 14 and as shown comprises initially a long strip or body 57 of suitable metallic material which midway between its ends has the rectangular notches 58 cut in the side edges thereof. The portion of the body 57 from one side of the notches 58 to the end thereof has the side edges 59 tapered to the point 60 and this portion which is designated 61, constitutes the inner or under portion of the opener device.

From the notches 58 to the opposite end of the body 61 the side edges of the body are also tapered to a lesser degree, the side edges here being designated 62 and instead of intersecting to form a point as do the edges 59, these side edges 62v join the rounded end 63 and this portion, which is generally dsignated 64, forms the outer or top portion of the opener device when the body is bent or folded transversely to the form illustrated in FIG.

The maximum width of the body 59 is materially greater than the width of the opening 52 across the base edge 53 thereof and the distance between the notches 58 is very slightly less than the width of the opening 52 along the base edge 53.

The lower or inner portion 61 of the opener has the pointed tongue 65 struck therefrom adjacent to the point 60 and this tongue is designed to engage in the crotch between the edges 54 of the opening 52 in the same manner as the point 36 engages in the crotch or at the pointed '6 end of the opening 22 when the lower portion of the opener is fixed in position.

The opener 56 when placed in position in the opening 5-2 has the portion 61 introduced through the opening and disposed flat against the under side of the receptacle wall 50 with the point engaged with the tapered end or crotch of the opening 55. Since the overall width of the body 57 is greater than the maximum width of the opening and the length of the portion 61 is greater than the opening, it will be seen that this portion when placed against the under side of the wall can completely cover the open- The edges 54 of the opening 52 engage in the notches 58 at the widest part of the opening 52 or at the ends of the base 53 as illustrated and the body is bent or folded over along a fold line 66 to bring the top portion 64 into superposed relation with the bottom portion 61 but upon the top or outer side of the receptacle wall 50. Thus a bordering part of the top portion 64 will extend beyond the sides of the opening 52 and the top portion will accordingly completely cover the opening.

As will be readily apparent upon reference to FIG. 15, one side of each of the rectangular notches 58 joins an edge 59' of the portion 61 to form a point or spur 67 and these two spurs at opposite sides of the body, as well as the portion 61, will be covered by the sheet of foil 68 or like frangible material with which the inner surface of the wall is covered. Thus when the receptacle is filled with a carbonated beverage the pressure of the gases in the receptacle will press the foil firmly against the portion 61 of the opener to maintain the same tightly in place and this, together with the engagement of the tongue 65 in the crotch of the opening 52 will hold the opener firmly in place.

To effect the puncturing of the foil 68 to permit gases to escape from the receptacle, the free end of the top portion 64 of the opener is grasped and bent upwardly or raised from the top of the wall 50 approximately to the position illustrated in FIG. 10 following which an outward pull on the raised portion 64 to pull the inner or lower portion 61 through the opening 52, will force the spur portions 67 to bend downwardly as illustrated in FIG. 11. This downward bending of the spur portion 67 will cause the same to penetrate or puncture the foil thus forming gas escape openings 69 as illustrated, particularly in FIG. 12 and this operation takes place simultaneously with the removal of the lower portion 61 through the opening. Following the removal of the opener as illustrated in FIG. 14, the point 60 of the opener may be used as an implement for cutting out the remainder of the foil so that the contents of the receptacle may be dispensed through the opening.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in connection with a frangible sealing sheet over the pour opening and the inner portion of the opener whereby the container may be employed for merchandising liquids and more particularly carbonated liquids, it will be appreciated that the construction of the opener device in both of its embodiments is such that it may be used for closing a pour opening in the wall of a receptacle in which a dry flowable material may be merchandised and in which case the opener will elfectively close the pour opening without the combining or associating therewith of a sealing sheet such as that described. In other words, the construction of the opener in both of its embodiments is such that it will be securely fastened or locked in position in the opening and the inner portion of the opener will effective- 1y close the pour opening against the escape of dry materials and the opener can be easily and quickly removed to uncover or open the pour opening by grasping and bending or pulling outwardly the outer portion of the opener.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that there is provided by the present invention in the embodiments 7 here illustrated and described, a new and novel combined receptacle structure and opener particularly well adapted for merchandising carbonated beverages such as beer and the like and wherein the receptacle may be easily and quickly opened without requiring the use of accessory opening devices but merely by the act of grasping the outer portion of the opener and giving it a pull or jerk which will effect the simultaneous rupturing of the foil which covers the inner side of the opening and the complete detachment of the opener from the receptacle wall.

While in the foregoing description and in the illustration the foil has been described and illustrated as covering the entire inner surface of the wall in which the pour opening is formed, it is to be understood that the foil may be of a size merely to fully cover the inner portion of the opener and extend to a desired extent beyond and all around the same and be sealed to the inner surface of the wall. With this construction the foil will perform its function of preventing the gases from escaping and the inner portion of the opener will shield the pour opening and will also prevent the pressure of the gases in the receptacle from blowing the foil out through the opening.

We claim:

1. A container having a wall with a preformed pour opening therein through which contents of the container can be dispensed, an opener means carried by said Wall and disposed in the pour opening and having one part fully covering said opening upon an inner side of said wall, means carried by said part of said opener means engaging the inner side of the wall through the pour opening for securing said part in pour opening covering position, a sheet of frangible material covering said part and said opening upon the inner side of said wall, and means on the outer side of said wall and connected with said part by which said part may be pulled for removal through said opening.

2. A container having a wall with a preformed pour opening therein through which contents of the container can be dispensed, a frangible sealing sheet fully covering and closing said opening on the inner side of the wall, an opener means carried by said wall and disposed in the pour opening and having portions interiorly and exteriorly of said wall with the interior portion covering the opening between the wall and the frangible sheet, said opener means having a part thereof engaging the inner side of the wall through the pour opening, the exterior portion providing a grasping means, and means whereby the application of a pull to said exterior portion will effect the rupture of the frangible sheet.

3. A container having a wall with a preformed pour opening therein through which contents of the container can be dispensed, a frangible sealing sheet fully covering and closing said opening on the inner side of the wall, an opener means carried by said wall and disposed in the pour opening and having portions interiorly and exteriorly of said wall with the interior portion covering the opening between the wall and the frangible sheet, the exterior portion providing a grasping means, means carried by opener means adjacent to remote portions of said opening and engaging said wall for maintaining the opener means in a covering position relative to said opening, and means whereby the movement of the exterior portion in a prescribed direction relative to the interior portion releases the opener means and also efliects rupturing of the frangible sheet.

4. A container having a wall with a preformed pour opening therein through which contents of the container can be dispensed, and an opener means carried by the wall and disposed in the pour opening and held therein for complete removal therefrom and having an inner portion lying upon the inner side of the wall and extending fully across and covering the opening in one dimension thereof and an outer portion located upon the outer side of the wall and adapted to be grasped to facilitate the complete removal of the opener means from the wall and fastening means engaging the wall adjacent to remotely located edge portions of the opening for maintaining the inner portion in said opening covering position and which fastening means releases the opener means from the wall when said outer portion is grasped and moved outwardly from the wall.

5. The invention according to claim 4, wherein there is a frangible sealing member upon the inner side of the wall fully covering said inner portion of the opener means and the opening, and sealing the opening and wherein said fastening means embodies a part which ruptures the sealing means upon said outward movement of said outer portion.

6. A container having a wall with a preformed pour opening therein through which contents of the container can be dispensed, and an opener device carried by said wall and disposed in the pour opening and in closing relationship with said opening and held thereon for complete removal therefrom, said opener device comprising a relatively wide fiat strip of material folded upon itself on a transverse medial line providing an inner portion lying upon the inner side of the Wall and extending fully across the opening in one dimension thereof and an outer portion located upon the outer side of the wall and adapted to be grasped to facilitate complete removal of the opener means from the wall, the portion of the opener means along said fold line lying within the opening along one edge of the latter, the said inner portion at the end remote from said fold line extending across the border of the opening and lying against the inner side of the wall, means carried by the opener means adjacent to said fold line and extending across the adjacent border of the opening and engaging the inner side of the Wall, and a tongue member carried by the said inner portion adjacent to the end thereof remote from the fold line and extending across the adjacent border of the opening and terminating over the outer side of the wall.

7. The invention according to claim 6, with means connecting said tongue member with said outer portion, said connecting means being constructed and arranged to release the outer portion from the tongue member upon the application of an outward pull to the outer portion.

8. The invention according to claim 6, wherein said outer portion has an opening therein adjacent to the end thereof and adjacent to said tongue and said tongue has a terminal portion projecting through the said opening in the outer portion and turned down against the top side of the outer portion for releasably coupling said inner and outer portions together.

9. The invention according to claim 6, with a sealing member of frangible material covering said wall opening and said inner portion and sealing said wall opening and wherein the said means carried by the opener means adjacent to said fold line is moved away from the inner side of the Wall and functions to rupture said sealing member upon the outward movement of said outer portion away from the wall opening.

10. The invention according to claim 6, with a sealing member of frangible material covering said wall opening and said inner portion and sealing said wall opening and wherein the said means carried by the opener means adjacent to said fold line comprises a triangular spur extending in the longitudinal direction of and away from the adjacent end of the inner portion and said spur being movable downwardly away from the wall by outward movement of the outer portion away from the opening to effect the rupture of the underlying sealing member.

11. The invention according to claim 6, with a sealing member of frangible material covering said Wall opening and said inner portion and sealing said wall opening and wherein the said means carried by the opener means adjacent to said fold line comprises pointed lateral extensions of the inner portion and which lateral extensions 9 are bendable and become downturned through engagement with the adjacent edge of the opening to effect rupturing of the underlying sealing member upon the application of an outward pull to the outer portion sufficient to pull the inner portion outwardly through the opening.

12. An opener for attachment to a receptacle wall to cover, and being disposed in, a pour opening therein and for rupturing a frangible pour opening covering seal, said opener comprising a single strip of flat metal folded transversely upon itself to form two superposed portions, one portion having a tongue adjacent to its free end projecting toward the other portion, said other portion having an aperture therein for receiving said tongue to couple the portions together in operative relation, and a pointed means carried by said one portion adjacent to the fold line for effecting the rupture of said seal.

13. The invention according to claim 12, wherein said pointed means comprises a triangular spur forming an integral part of said one portion and projecting longitudinally of and from the fold line end thereof.

14. The invention according to claim 12, wherein said one portion is of elongate triangular form with the base of the triangle extending across the width of the strip at the fold line, the strip having two longitudinal edge slots in alignment transversely thereof at the fold line and said pointed means being formed by the intersection of one side edge of each slot with the adjacent longitudinal edge of the said one portion.

15. A container having a wall with an elongate triangular pour opening therein through which contents of the container can be dispensed, a frangible sealing sheet upon the inner side of the wall fully covering and closing said opening, and an opener means carried by said wall and disposed in said pour opening and held therein for complete removal therefrom and comprising two elongate parts in superposed relation and joined together at one end, the lower one of said parts being triangular and of gradually increasing width from one end to a maximum width, said joined ends slightly less than the width of said triangular opening at the base of the latter, said lower part being between said wall and sealing sheet and fully covering the major portion of the triangular opening, the said joined ends lying in the base portion of the triangular opening and the upper part extending longitudinally :of the triangular opening upon the top of the wall, said lower part having a pointed flat spur extending longitudinally from the other end thereofacross the base of the triangular opening between the underside of the wall and the sealing sheet, a tongue carried by said lower part and lying in the apex end of the triangular opening and projecting upwardly therethrough toward said upper part, and means releasably connecting said tongue and said upper part together.

16. A container having a wall with an elongate triangular pour opening therein through which contents of the container can be dispensed, a frangible scaling sheet upon the inner side of the wall fully covering and closing said opening, and an opener means carried by said wall and disposed in said opening and held therein for complete removal therefrom and comprising two elongate parts in superposed relation and joined together at one end, the lower one of said parts being triangular in outline and fully covering said opening and lying between said wall and sealing sheet, the said parts at the joined ends thereof being wider than the base edge of the triangular opening and having oppositely located notches receiving therein edges of the triangular opening at the base of the latter whereby the upper part is positioned upon the outer side of the wall and covers the triangular opening, a tongue member carried by the lower part adjacent to the apex end thereof and lying in and projecting upwardly from the apex portion of the triangular opening, and means releasably connecting said tongue and said upper part together.

17. A container having a wall with a pre-formed pour opening therein through which contents of the container can be dispensed and an opener means carried by the wall and disposed in the pour opening and held therein for complete removal therefrom and having an inner portion lying upon the inner side of the wall and extending fully across the opening in one dimension thereof and an outer portion located upon the outer side of the Wall and adapted to be grasped to facilitate the complete removal of the opener means from the wall and fastening means engaging the wall adjacent to remotely located edge portions of the opening and which fastening means releases the opener means from the wall when said outer portion is grasped and moved outwardly from the wall, said opener means comprising a strip of relatively wide material folded transversely upon itself to form the said inner and outer portions and the said fastening means comprising a pair of members integral with said strip adjacent to the ends of said inner portion and projecting in opposite directions for extension across the said remotely located edge portions of said opening.

18. A container having a wall with a single opening therein, said single opening forming a pour opening, a closure device for said opening comprising a body of material folded on itself to provide an inner part and an outer part, said inner part lying against the inner side of said wall under and completely covering and closing said opening, said folded body having the fold portion lying within the opening and extending across an edge portion of the opening and said outer part lying against the outer side of the wall over said opening, and means carried by the device for holding it in opening closing attachment to said wall and which attachment is yieldable to release the device and permit the inner part to be withdrawn through the opening upon application of an upward pull upon said outer part.

19. A container having a Wall with a single opening therein, said single opening forming a pour opening, a closure device for said opening comprising a body of material folded on itself to provide an inner .part and an outer part, said inner part lying against the inner side of said wall under and completely covering and closing said opening, said folded body having the fold portion lying within the opening and extending across an edge portion of the opening and said outer part lying against the outer side of the wall over said opening, and releasable means carried by the device at said fold and engaging the inner side of the wall to hold the said inner part of the device in opening covering position, and a releasable coupling between the parts of the device remote from said releasable means and releasable for separation of the parts upon application of an outward pull to the outer part.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,790,577 Fried Apr. 30, 1957 

1. A CONTAINER HAVING A WALL WITH A PREFORMED POUR OPENING THEREIN THROUGH WHICH CONTENTS OF THE CONTAINER CAN BE DISPENSED, AN OPENER MEANS CARRIED BY SAID WALL AND DISPOSED IN THE POUR OPENING AND HAVING ONE PART FULLY COVERING SAID OPENING UPON AN INNER SIDE OF SAID WALL, MEANS CARRIED BY SAID PART OF SAID OPENER MEANS ENGAGING THE INNER SIDE OF THE WALL THROUGH THE POUR OPENING FOR SECURING SAID PART IN POUR OPENING COVERING POSITION, A SHEET OF FRANGIBLE MATERIAL COVERING SAID PART AND SAID OPENING THE INNER SAID OF SAID WALL, AND MEANS ON THE OUTER SIDE OF SAID WALL AND CONNECTED WITH SAID PART BY WHICH SAID PART MAY BE PULLED FOR REMOVAL THROUGH SAID OPENING. 